A Small Town Princess
"From Main Street to Movie Street!"
Plot
A Small Town Princess follows the story of a young woman from a small rural community who dreams of escaping her mundane life for the glamour of Hollywood. When a film production company arrives in her town to shoot on location, she sees her opportunity and manages to get herself hired as an extra. Through a series of comedic misunderstandings and fortunate accidents, she gradually works her way up from background performer to featured player, all while maintaining her small-town values and innocence. The film satirizes the Hollywood studio system and the contrast between small-town America and the movie industry, with our heroine eventually having to choose between her newfound fame and her roots.
About the Production
A Small Town Princess was produced during the peak of the silent comedy era when Mack Sennett's studio was churning out numerous two-reel comedies. The film was typical of Sennett's output during this period, featuring fast-paced slapstick comedy and romantic elements. Edward F. Cline, who had previously worked with Buster Keaton, brought his considerable comedy directing experience to this production. The film was shot on a tight schedule, as was common for short comedies of the era, with minimal location shooting and extensive use of studio sets.
Historical Background
A Small Town Princess was produced in 1927, a pivotal year in cinema history that marked the transition from silent to sound films. The film was released just months before 'The Jazz Singer' would revolutionize the industry and effectively doom the silent comedy genre. This period saw the peak of short comedy production, with studios like Mack Sennett's churning out hundreds of two-reelers annually. The film's theme of small-town values versus Hollywood glamour reflected broader American cultural tensions of the 1920s, as rural populations grappled with urbanization and modernization. The Roaring Twenties were in full swing, with cinema serving as both escape and reflection of the era's rapid social changes. This film represents the end of an era in comedy filmmaking, as the sophisticated visual comedy of the silent period would soon give way to the dialogue-driven comedies of the early sound era.
Why This Film Matters
While A Small Town Princess was a modest two-reel comedy typical of its era, it contributes to our understanding of the transition period in American comedy cinema. The film represents the final flowering of the silent short comedy format that had dominated American screens since the early 1910s. Its theme of small-town innocence versus Hollywood corruption was a common trope that reflected American anxieties about urbanization and the changing nature of celebrity culture in the 1920s. The film also showcases the work of Madeline Hurlock, one of the relatively few women who achieved regular starring status in silent comedy, typically dominated by male performers. As a product of the Mack Sennett studio, it's part of the legacy that influenced generations of American comedy filmmakers, even though individual films like this one are largely forgotten today.
Making Of
The making of A Small Town Princess reflected the efficient assembly-line approach to comedy production at Mack Sennett's studio during the mid-1920s. Director Edward F. Cline, known for his work with top comedy stars, brought a polished touch to what might otherwise have been a routine two-reeler. Billy Bevan, a Sennett regular, had developed his comic persona over dozens of previous shorts, allowing him to quickly deliver the required performance. Madeline Hurlock, who had been with Sennett since 1923, was one of the studio's most reliable female comedy stars. The production would have been completed in just a few days, typical for short comedies of the era, with minimal rehearsal and emphasis on spontaneous comic invention. The film's plot about Hollywood coming to a small town was particularly meta, as Sennett's studio was famous for location shooting in rural areas around Los Angeles.
Visual Style
The cinematography in A Small Town Princess would have been functional rather than artistic, typical of comedy shorts from the Mack Sennett studio. The camera work would have emphasized clarity for the physical comedy, with medium shots allowing the performers' movements to be clearly visible. The film likely used static camera positions for most scenes, with occasional tracking shots for chase sequences or comic reveals. Lighting would have been basic but effective, designed to ensure the comedy was always visible and the performers' expressions were clear. The visual style would have been consistent with other Sennett productions of the mid-1920s, prioritizing comic clarity over photographic innovation.
Innovations
A Small Town Princess did not feature any significant technical achievements, which was typical for comedy shorts of its era. The film would have been shot on standard 35mm film with the cameras and equipment commonly used in 1927. The technical aspects would have been focused on efficiency and reliability rather than innovation, as comedy shorts needed to be produced quickly and economically. The film represents the standard technical capabilities of mid-1920s American cinema rather than pushing any boundaries.
Music
As a silent film, A Small Town Princess would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its theatrical run. The score would have been compiled from standard photoplay music libraries, with selections chosen to match the mood of each scene. Comedy sequences would have been accompanied by lively, syncopated pieces, while romantic moments would have used more sentimental melodies. The theater organist or small orchestra would have had flexibility to adapt the music to audience reactions. No original composed score was created for the film, as was typical for short comedies of this period.
Did You Know?
- This was one of many short comedies that Billy Bevan made for Mack Sennett during his prolific career in the 1920s
- Madeline Hurlock was one of the few women in silent comedy who regularly played leading roles rather than just supporting characters
- Director Edward F. Cline had previously co-directed several of Buster Keaton's classic features including 'The General' (1926)
- The film was released just as the silent era was beginning to wane, with 'The Jazz Singer' premiering later the same year
- Barbara Tennant was nearing the end of her film career when this was made, having started in films as early as 1914
- Like many Sennett comedies, this film likely featured the famous 'Sennett Bathing Beauties' in background roles
- The film's title was a common trope in silent comedies, contrasting rural innocence with urban sophistication
- No original negative or complete print is known to survive in major film archives
- The film was part of a series of comedies Sennett produced featuring small-town characters thrust into big-city situations
What Critics Said
Contemporary reviews of A Small Town Princess were likely brief and focused on its entertainment value as a supporting short feature. Trade publications like Variety and The Moving Picture World would have evaluated it based on its comedy effectiveness and audience appeal. Billy Bevan's performance would have been noted positively, as he was a well-regarded comedy actor of the period. Modern critical assessment is impossible due to the film's apparent lost status, but based on similar Sennett productions of the era, it would have been considered competent but unremarkable entertainment typical of the studio's output during this period.
What Audiences Thought
As a short comedy supporting feature in 1927, A Small Town Princess would have been received by audiences as light entertainment between main features. The familiar premise of small-town values triumphing over Hollywood superficiality would have resonated with 1920s audiences. Billy Bevan had developed a loyal following among comedy fans, and his presence would have been a draw. The film's brief runtime and straightforward comedy would have made it accessible to theater audiences of all ages. Like most short comedies of the era, it was designed to be immediately entertaining without requiring deep engagement or analysis.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- Other Mack Sennett comedies
- The work of Harold Lloyd
- Charlie Chaplin's small-town character films
- Buster Keaton's fish-out-of-water comedies
This Film Influenced
- Later Hollywood satires
- Films about small-town characters in big cities
- Behind-the-scenes Hollywood comedies